Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
To fight; to struggle; to contend
To look at; to observe; to watch
To fight; to struggle; to contend
To fight; to struggle; to contend
Lot — refers to a lottery, draw, or straw used for random; commonly used in games, decision-making, or divination.
Sacrificial wine — refers to aromatic wine used in ancient Chinese rituals; also means smooth, unobstructed flow.
Luxuriant, lush, dense (of vegetation); melancholy, depressed; complicated, intricate
Gloomy, depressed, melancholy; luxuriant, lush (of vegetation); convoluted, intricate
Li — an ancient cooking tripod with hollow legs; a type of ancient pottery vessel; also used in words for diaphragm.
A type of ancient Chinese cooking vessel with legs; a bronze tripod cauldron used in ritual ceremonies.
Fu — an ancient Chinese cauldron or cooking vessel with legs and
Cauldron — an ancient large cooking vessel with three hollow legs used
Gui — an ancient Chinese tripod pitcher or ewer with a spout
Ancient tripod cooking vessel with three hollow legs; also a surname; archaic usage referring to a multitude or gathering.
Liquid residue from fermented grains; dregs; lees
Gui — an ancient Chinese tripod cooking vessel with a hollow leg,; a type of ritual bronze vessel from the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
To offer sacrificial meat in ancient rituals; to cook sacrificial food.
To sell; to vend; to deal in
Ghost, spirit, demon; supernatural being; clever, crafty
Demon, ghost, evil spirit — refers to malevolent supernatural beings in Chinese
Ji — a type of ghost or demon in Chinese folklore; a malevolent spirit that causes illness, especially in children.
A type of celestial being or star spirit in ancient Chinese mythology; appears in classical texts like the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Ancient term for a type of demon or ghost; obscure character rarely used in modern Chinese.
Chief; head; foremost
Soul, spirit, the non-physical essence of a person or being; also refers to mood or state of mind.
Ba — a mythical female drought demon in Chinese folklore; a supernatural being causing drought.
Soul, spirit, vigor; refers to the spiritual aspect of a person, distinct from the corporeal; also used to describe boldness and vitality.
Demon; evil spirit; goblin
Dark, black, gloomy; stealthily, suddenly; used to describe something appearing or happening suddenly and quietly.
Nightmare — a frightening or unpleasant dream; to have a nightmare; also refers to being tormented or haunted by something.
Xiao — a mythical mountain spirit or demon in Chinese folklore; often depicted as a small, mischievous mountain goblin.
A malevolent mountain spirit or demon in Chinese mythology; one of the demonic creatures in the term 魑魅魍魉.
A legendary monster or evil spirit in Chinese mythology; often associated with calamity or misfortune.
A legendary bear-like creature in Chinese mythology; also refers to a type of large ape or bear; an ancient term for a kind of animal.
A mythical mask used in ancient Chinese exorcism rituals; a type of ceremonial mask worn by performers to drive away evil
Wǎng — refers to a type of mountain spirit or demon in
Demonic spirit, ghost, monster; specifically refers to a type of mountain demon or specter in Chinese
Wei — a historical state during the Warring States period; the Wei dynasty (Three Kingdoms period); also a common Chinese surname.
Gan — ancient term referring to a type of wild animal or; extremely rare character with limited modern usage.
Mountain demon; evil spirit; one of various malevolent supernatural beings in Chinese folklore.
A star name, specifically referring to one of the stars in the
A star in Chinese astronomy, specifically the 22nd star in the 28
Demon, devil, evil spirit; magic, supernatural power; obsession, addiction
A type of ghost or spirit in Chinese folklore; a demon or supernatural being; used in names of certain deities or spirits.
A mythical ghost or spirit in Chinese folklore; often associated with malevolent or wandering spirits.
hated, detested; evil, wicked; an ugly person
Nightmare — a frightening or oppressive dream; to have a nightmare.
Zhan — a ghost of a ghost; a supernatural being in Chinese mythology that is said to be the
Fish — aquatic vertebrate animal with gills, fins, and scales; used metaphorically for abundance, prosperity, and flexibility.
Dāo fish — a type of knife fish, specifically the Chinese herring
A mythical mermaid or sea creature; also an archaic name for a type of fish.
A character meaning to cut fish or to cut open fish; an ancient term for a fish-cutting knife or the act of filleting
A type of fish trap or weir used in rivers, typically made
Stingray — a type of cartilaginous fish with a flattened body and
A type of fish, specifically referring to the Spanish mackerel or similar
To fish with a hook and line; angling.
A type of marine fish, specifically the filefish or leatherjacket fish (family
Barracuda — refers to a type of predatory fish, specifically the Japanese
A type of fish; also used in ancient texts to refer to a mythical or legendary
A legendary fish or sea monster in ancient Chinese mythology; also refers to a type of marine creature.
Practical guidance for evaluating characters by radical, stroke balance, and cultural resonance.
Radicals group characters by their core semantic or structural elements. When you filter by radical, you surface characters that share meaning cues and writing patterns, making it easier to shortlist options with aligned symbolism.
Most parents stay within 6–16 strokes so signatures remain elegant and readable. Avoid extremes—overly complex forms slow writing, while ultra-simple characters may feel plain next to a more expressive partner character.
Chinese characters themselves are largely gender-neutral. Perceived gender comes from imagery and cultural associations, so review meanings and radicals together to find characters that match the tone you want.